The Christmas Bunny (2010) is a story of a lonely foster kid named Julia who finds a lost, injured rabbit in the woods on Christmas Eve. Co-starring Florence Henderson as her kindly neighbor who rehabilitates rabbits.
After moving from two foster homes, Julia is taken in by a Michigan family going through rough economic times. Feeling unlovable, she wants to become "real" like the titular Velveteen Rabbit from her videotape. When she finds a bunny injured by foster brother, a vet tells them to take him to the "Bunny Lady", the encounter changing their lives.
Tropes for The Christmas Bunny
- Abusive Parents: Julia's mom, Pamela, as revealed in a flashback, when she slaps her.
- Addled Addict: Julia's mother is implied to be this, along with being a prostitute.
- All There in the Manual: In the credits, we find out that Julia's mother's name is "Pamela Haggen"
- An Aesop: Two: 1) Don't get a pet if you have not well-researched what goes into its care, they are NOT toys and 2), if you (choose to) take in a troubled child, treat them like a person, don't be so quick to give up on them.
- Artistic License – Animal Care: This was brought up at different points:
- Earlier, Betsy ("The Bunny Lady") brings up the fact that Rumple's previous owner fed him candy, pointing out that isn't what he should have been fed; rather, he should have been fed pellets, hay, and leafy green veggies. This is subtly referenced, as Rumple is luckier in comparison to how this could go IRL (rabbits have been known to die of GI stasis or something related).
- Later on, towards the end, when we meet Rumple's previous family when they come to take him back, we find out that they thought of Rumple as being wild and set him free and we see that clearly that he wasn't well taken care of.
- Berserk Button: Any harm to Rumple is Julia's, as Billy will tell you.
- Cloudcuckoolander: Mrs. Ross, the Bunny Lady. She's also something of a Crazy Cat Lady, if you consider the amount of bunnies she cares for.
- Covers Always Lie: On the DVD cover is a different rabbit than Rumple is, as the latter is a French mini lop, not a rex. However, a rex rabbit is shown briefly in the film.
- Cute Mute: Julia, until Rumple helps her open up.
- Daughter Of A Whore: Julia's mom,Pamela, in a flashback, was implied to be a prostitute. That, and a drug addict.
- Foster Kid: Julia and the home she sent to is her third one.
- Good Parents: Julia's foster parents, Patti and Scott, at least, they try to be.
- Happily Adopted: Julia, later on, after her mother terminates her rights.
- Jerkass: Billy is this and somewhat of a Big Brother Bully, as he decided to put Rumple in harm's way by placing him in a pram attached to a sled and he does pick on Julia.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Julia's foster father, Scott, when he finds out that she ran away because of what he said about her and Rumple
- Noodle Incident: Played for some drama, as we don't know what happened with Julia in her prior foster homes, besides that her home with Patti and Scott is her 3rd one. She did act out violently towards Billy (but he egged it), so that might have had something to do with it.
- Nobody Poops: Played with, as, while we do see Rumple eat his poop onscreen, we don't see him pooping
- Parental Abandonment: Julia, as her mother (later) terminates her parental rights and we don't have any mentions of her father.
- Perpetual Poverty: A realistic/downplayed one with the Coopers,the family Julia's sent to, as they aren't too bad off, just down on their luck.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: Rumple, naturally, being a bunny. Same also applies for the other rabbits shown in the film.
- The Runaway: After overhearing what Scott said about her and Rumple, Julia runs away. This wouldn't be further complicated if not for that it's winter and she (and Rumple) had a very good chance of freezing to death, had Scott not have found her.
- Shown Their Work: The film presents some very accurate information about rabbits and the care and behaviour thereof (like a rabbit eating its poop, for example).
- Spoiled Brat: Rumple's original owner and he was also a destructive one. When Scott sees for himself, he offers to buy Rumple, so they could keep him.
- Truth in Television: Earlier, when they take Rumple to the vet and said vet's response (the price of the treatment for an injured leg). As anyone who's owned an "exotic animal" will tell you, vet bills can be higher (and more often than not are) than the bills for "regular pets".
